On June 17, the return of Pan Am to JFK International Airport marked a pivotal moment in aviation history, as the airport undergoes a massive $19 billion renovation to restore JFK to the iconic status it enjoyed during the Pan Am years.
Though a misty fog descended upon the airport that morning, it did not dampen the pioneering spirit reminiscent of Pan Am’s early years when the first private chartered jet commemorative Pan Am journey called, ‘Pan Am: Tracing the Transatlantic”, taxied to Gate 5 at Terminal 7 and took off from JFK Airport with 35 passengers in a Boeing 757 configured with all Business Class lie-flat seating.
As they boarded the plane, the passengers were welcomed by voyage host Craig Carter, CEO Pan American World Airways, along with flight attendants beautifully dressed in replicas of the original Pan Am uniforms. Complete with the Pan Am logo on the fuselage and iconic Pan Am globe on its tail, this Pan Am Clipper, named Yankee Clipper II, joined an illustrious list of over 100 Pan Am Clippers as the first to fly under the Pan Am brand in many years.
The 12-day ‘’Tracing the Transatlantic” commemorative journey from New York to Europe will closely follow the routes of the original flying boats with stops in Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London and Foynes in Ireland and travelers on the flight will stay at iconic hotels at each stopover.
The journey is officially licensed by Pan American World Airways and is supported by the Pan Am Museum Foundation. The Pan Am private air program is operated by Beyond Capricorn, a joint venture of Bartelings, a company specializing in touring worldwide by private aircraft, and Criterion Travel, a specialist in developing and operating tours and cruises for U.S. affinity organizations.
“Since 1927, Pan Am has left an indelible mark on the world. From humble beginnings as the first commercial carrier for the U.S. Air Mail, Pan Am and its founder, Juan T. Trippe, went on to create a vast aviation empire across the globe, literally bringing the world closer together one flight at a time,” said Craig Carter, CEO of Pan American World Airways. “It is exciting to embark on this journey, tracing both the original Pan Am Southern and Northern Transatlantic routes. “
